Israel's military intelligencechief told lawmakers any US assault on Iraq is likely to be inearly February, parliament's spokesman said today.
Major-General Aharon Ze'evi-Farkash told a parliamentarycommittee that a US strike would logically follow the January27 deadline for the final weapons inspectors' report to the UNSecurity Council.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon indicated yesterdaythat he had been briefed by Americans on a tentative date forthe assault.
"Apparently there will be a war. I think I know more or lesswhen. It is not going to happen immediately," Mr Sharon toldChannel Two television.
Also today, Israel's Health Ministry said it has decidednot to innoculate the general public for the deadly smallpoxvirus despite mounting fears that Iraq will retaliate for anyUS strike by launching missiles at the Jewish state.
Israel has already vaccinated 15,000 emergency workersagainst the highly-infectious smallpox, with few side effects.
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein fired 39 Scud missiles tippedwith conventional warheads at the Jewish state in the 1991 GulfWar, causing damages but few casulaties.